Murder, loot at doctor's house cracked

RAJKOT: Police have cracked the sensational murder of a watchman guarding the locked bungalow of Dr Malti Mehta in Bhavnagar and arrested one of the six burglars who had stolen

cash

,

jewellery and her car on November 22.

On Wednesday, police nabbed 24-year-old Dhawal Solanki, a resident of Fulsar village near Bhavnagar.

Apart from Solanki, those involved in the crime have been identified as Vipul Bhokalva, Munna Mer, Ajay Jivraj, Vipur Bharwad and their accomplice whose name is not known. All the five are still on the run.

After killing the watchman Vinod Parmar (50), the burglars carried away the entire safe containing cash and jewellery along with the doctor's car.

“The car was found abandoned on the bypass road near Budhel village. Some locals identified Solanki who had dumped the car there. Acting on this information, we nabbed him,” said N G Jadeja, sub-inspector of Bhavnagar local crime branch.

During interrogation, Solanki told police that they had gone to Dr Mehta’s bungalow with the intention of robbery. They told Parmar that they had come for a medical check up and asked him to fetch drinking water. When Parmar went inside, they followed him into the house and strangled him to death. They tied his hands and feet and committed the robbery.

“They took away the safe containing gold and silver jewellery and cash, all worth Rs 60 lakh, and the car. While the car has been seized, we are going to Solanki’s house to recover the remaining booty,” said Jadeja.

The crime was committed while Dr Mehta was away on a pilgrimage to Haridwar along with her family members on November 16. Before leaving, she had entrusted Parmar with the responsibility of a security guard to look after her house.

The bungalow is in a posh locality surrounded by trees, and it is hard to hear any voices coming from inside. Police suspect an insider’s hand in the crime as the accused appeared to know Dr Mehta’s and her family members’ scheduled journey to Haridwar.